Contax TVS or Ricoh GR10

[polkor]

Hello
Thanks to this forum suggestions i have purchased my SLR this week. Right now iam looking for something "easy to use " for my wife. The best option will be one of those fancy point and shoot cameras. We have narrowed search to Contax TVS and Ricoh GR10(cannot afford GR1 or T2 ) Difference in price between Tvs and gr10 is almost 100$. Is it worthy? Does any one actually have/ compare those two cameras in terms of lens/ photo quality? Cannot find any comparison

Thanks a lot

 

[emacs]

I don't have experience with the Ricoh, but I quite like my Tvs. I picked mine up for a little under US$90, and I'd say it's definitely worth that. Build quality is very good with a mostly titanium body. The zooming viewfinder is quite nice, it's decently bright and has a very easy to read LCD information display. The controls are pretty intuitive, though I do sometimes find myself accidentally changing the zoom while trying to adjust the aperture. The lens is decent, a little soft in the corners and not as fast as the Ricoh's, but the zoom functionality is convenient. At f/6.5 at the long end, though, you'll definitely be needing the flash when you're not outdoors during the daytime.
The GR10 will probably win out in image quality and compactness, but as far as build quality, ease of use, and convenience goes, the Tvs is a solid choice.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

The TVS has been a workhorse for me. I like the fact the flash can be turned off as default, and the zoom is small but useful. 28mm is also great to have. The viewfinder is nice for a point and shoot. Exposure compensation right on the top so it is easy to change. The flash is more than adequate. The lens is also probably one of the best, if not the best, of all the zoom point and shoots. The Zeiss coatings deliver incredible color if you shoot color. You can also shoot aperture priority if you want. I typically just leave it in program. The only downside is you have to use two hands to use it, or at least to turn it on. Turning the zoom ring turns it on/off. Once it is on though you can one hand it.

I have a broken GR1 which is supposed to be designed for professionals, and it is, well, broken. It isn't just one problem either. Most of them are broken now it seems. If the lens on the GR10 is the same as the GR1 then it is incredible for a point and shoot. I found it wasn't that great for color for some reason. For black and white the lens was amazing. I do miss it, but I wouldn't spend the money to replace it. Not worth it. I have the impression that the GR10 is a less sophisticated sibling of the GR1. Maybe that is a blessing in disguise.

I think the highest quality for the best price is going to be an Olympus Mju II. Great lens, super fast to use and they seem to be reliable. You can use it one handed as well. I have one and it is surprisingly good.

Although I have quite a few point and shoots, I still take my TVS out with me most of the time because of the zoom and the fact that the flash can be turned off as a default so you don't have to fiddle with it. Great viewfinder on the TVS as well.

Hope that helps.

 

[andrewc]

I agree about the Mju II (Stylus Epic). I had a TVS and loved the camera itself; build quality was great, the ability to manually control to an extent was great, but I was not terribly impressed with the image quality from the lens. The Stylus Epic doesn't have near the build quality, although it is a solid quality feeling camera, but its lens is very sharp and consistently so. I've never used the GR1, although I'd like to try one out.

Andy

 

[polkor]

I think the highest quality for the best price is going to be an Olympus Mju II. Great lens, super fast to use and they seem to be reliable. You can use it one handed as well. I have one and it is surprisingly good.

I guess f/2.8 not that zoom versions ? They are way cheaper than f2.8

 

[Craig75]

I have a tvs iii and i thought lens on it was amazing. Its like having a mini slr in your pocket and its just beautifully engineered.

However get a ii rather than a iii. The fold out front of camera is a bit annoying and it cant take filters like the ii. Different lens to ii - but i dont know which is better but iiis lens i found very impressive.

Id be surprised if you didnt end up stealing it from yr wife but lot of electronics and motors so a lot to potentially go wrong with it too.

Mine was £150 new old stock but i wouldnt like to have paid too much more.